Kentuck bat removal may cost $50,000

Nonprofit seeks help from Northport City Council, says bill could devastate arts group

The staff at Kentuck is busy moving out of their building on the corner of Fifth and Main due to a bat infestation. They are moving their operations to the Kentuck Annex directly behind the main building.

Robert Sutton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 11:36 p.m.

NORTHPORT | It could cost Kentuck close to $50,000 to rid its building in downtown Northport of bats — and the Kentuck board is seeking help from the city of Northport.

Members from the Kentuck board of directors met with the Northport City Council Monday night to request financial assistance. The bottom line is that without some help, the bat problem would deplete any reserve funds that Kentuck has been able to save.

“This could devastate us,” said Kentuck Director Shweta Gamble, who added that the nonprofit's reserve fund is set aside in case of bad weather or a low turnout during the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts each fall.

“If we are forced to (fund) the repairs, we will have to pick and choose our services, and we don't want to do that,” said Lucy Arnold Sikes, vice president of the board. “We are asking for your help.”

Last week, a bat infestation was discovered inside the Kentuck Art Center's central building at 503 Main Ave. in Northport. As a result, the main office and shop had to move next door to the Georgine Clarke Building, where Kentuck typically hosts events and exhibits.

According to exterminators, the bats could be in the hundreds and must be removed humanely. Because the creatures are federally protected, they cannot be harmed.

Exterminators hope the bats will leave on their own but not be able to return because of the installation of tubes called “excluders” that prevent them from re-entering. Then, the ceilings of two floors of the building will be removed to clear any bat guano, since it contains harmful fungal spores that can cause histoplasmosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Henipavirus and possibly Ebola in humans.

The $50,000 price tag includes $4,000 to seal the attic and put in exclusion devices that allow the bats to leave the building, $11,000 to tear out the ceiling, $16,000 for a new roof, which already was leaking, and $16,500 for new windows to prevent the problem from recurring.

“We have to get the building back in a safe, workable condition not only for our visitors, but also for our staff,” Sikes said.

According to exterminators, work must begin soon, before breeding season starts. If bats begin breeding, the young will have to be left until they are fully grown, probably by August or September.

While the office is relocated, Kentuck will lose rent from some of the resident artists who rent their studio space from the nonprofit, and some events may have to be rescheduled. It's something that the Kentuck leadership doesn't want to see happen.

The organization is still recovering financially since former Kentuck director Sara Anne Gibson stole thousands of dollars from the organization and made unauthorized purchases and unauthorized payments to herself between 2003 and 2009. In February, Gibson was sentenced to serve three years under the supervision of the Tuscaloosa County Community Corrections program and seven years on probation.

“Fifty thousand dollars is a devastating blow to a nonprofit organization,” Sikes said. “We were finally at a place to start growing again.”

Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon said he supports Kentuck and everything it does for Northport, including bringing thousands of visitors to the city each year for the Kentuck festival.

“Kentuck is a vital part of our community and a drawing point for our city,” Herndon said during the meeting. “I support it.”

The council will receive a biannual report of its finances within the next two weeks and will take a closer look at its budget, said City Administrator Scott Collins. Collins told the Kentuck leaders that the council could make some sort of decision by the next council meeting on April 1.

<p>NORTHPORT | It could cost Kentuck close to $50,000 to rid its building in downtown Northport of bats — and the Kentuck board is seeking help from the city of Northport. </p><p>Members from the Kentuck board of directors met with the Northport City Council Monday night to request financial assistance. The bottom line is that without some help, the bat problem would deplete any reserve funds that Kentuck has been able to save. </p><p>“This could devastate us,” said Kentuck Director Shweta Gamble, who added that the nonprofit's reserve fund is set aside in case of bad weather or a low turnout during the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts each fall. </p><p>“If we are forced to (fund) the repairs, we will have to pick and choose our services, and we don't want to do that,” said Lucy Arnold Sikes, vice president of the board. “We are asking for your help.”</p><p>Last week, a bat infestation was discovered inside the Kentuck Art Center's central building at 503 Main Ave. in Northport. As a result, the main office and shop had to move next door to the Georgine Clarke Building, where Kentuck typically hosts events and exhibits.</p><p>According to exterminators, the bats could be in the hundreds and must be removed humanely. Because the creatures are federally protected, they cannot be harmed. </p><p>Exterminators hope the bats will leave on their own but not be able to return because of the installation of tubes called “excluders” that prevent them from re-entering. Then, the ceilings of two floors of the building will be removed to clear any bat guano, since it contains harmful fungal spores that can cause histoplasmosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Henipavirus and possibly Ebola in humans.</p><p>The $50,000 price tag includes $4,000 to seal the attic and put in exclusion devices that allow the bats to leave the building, $11,000 to tear out the ceiling, $16,000 for a new roof, which already was leaking, and $16,500 for new windows to prevent the problem from recurring.</p><p>“We have to get the building back in a safe, workable condition not only for our visitors, but also for our staff,” Sikes said.</p><p>According to exterminators, work must begin soon, before breeding season starts. If bats begin breeding, the young will have to be left until they are fully grown, probably by August or September. </p><p>While the office is relocated, Kentuck will lose rent from some of the resident artists who rent their studio space from the nonprofit, and some events may have to be rescheduled. It's something that the Kentuck leadership doesn't want to see happen.</p><p>The organization is still recovering financially since former Kentuck director Sara Anne Gibson stole thousands of dollars from the organization and made unauthorized purchases and unauthorized payments to herself between 2003 and 2009. In February, Gibson was sentenced to serve three years under the supervision of the Tuscaloosa County Community Corrections program and seven years on probation.</p><p>“Fifty thousand dollars is a devastating blow to a nonprofit organization,” Sikes said. “We were finally at a place to start growing again.”</p><p>Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon said he supports Kentuck and everything it does for Northport, including bringing thousands of visitors to the city each year for the Kentuck festival. </p><p>“Kentuck is a vital part of our community and a drawing point for our city,” Herndon said during the meeting. “I support it.”</p><p>The council will receive a biannual report of its finances within the next two weeks and will take a closer look at its budget, said City Administrator Scott Collins. Collins told the Kentuck leaders that the council could make some sort of decision by the next council meeting on April 1. </p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabolavant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>